Free Return to Sender by Fern Michaels

she removed two frosted bottles of Diet Coke. She used the opener on the machine to flip the metal tops off. She hadn’t seen a machine like this in years. She placed the drinks on the counter.
    “Two bucks,” said a woman of indeterminate age.
    Lin held her hand out for her change. “Thanks.”
    “Anytime, missy.”
    Lin had a huge grin on her face as she went back to the Hummer. Missy. For a minute Lin thought the old gal was going to call her Miss Stinky Pants. Sally was waiting for her.
    “This place is in a time warp. I swear the toilets were those old black kind with the pull chain attached.” Shaking her head, Sally drove up to the on-ramp leading to I-75 North.
    “You should’ve seen the Coke machine. That place is probably full of antiques.”
    “Lots of these old mom-and-pop stores have them. I don’t think they care about updating to the newer, more modern way. Sometimes I think the old ways were the best.”
    “I don’t,” Lin said. “I like modern conveniences.”
    “And you’re going to need some high-tech software if you’re planning on screwing with Mr. Pemberton’s finances.”
    “How do you know that?” Lin asked.
    “I watch TV.”
    “Remember that computer geek that used to come to the diner, the one who reminded me of Pee-wee Herman?” Lin asked.
    “Yeah. What about him?”
    “I bet he’d know how to get his hands on the software we need.”
    Sally glanced at her. “May I ask how you’re going to approach him? Better yet, how do you plan to find him? He doesn’t come in the diner anymore. Maybe he moved.”
    Lin took a deep breath. “I honestly haven’t thought that far ahead. I need to sit down and make a concrete plan, something doable.”
    “If it were me, I’d hire the best PI money could buy. You’ve got tons of the stuff now. What are you saving it for? Will’s college is paid for. The diner’s mortgage is paid off. I think you should put some of that fortune of yours to good use here so you won’t be jumping all over the page. Hire the best. Tell him what you want, and more important, make sure to explain money is no object.”
    “I think you like spending my money. Don’t kid yourself, Sally dear. You’ve raked in a bundle yourself. We’re both lucky we made those investments way back when.”
    “True. Paid for Lizzie’s college.”
    “And that swanky nursing home for my father. We can’t forget that.”
    Sally took the Walnut Avenue exit in Dalton before shooting Lin a dark look. “You know as well as I do that you wouldn’t put your father in some decrepit old folks’ home. Though he deserves it. One with hardwood floors.”
    Lin gave her a half smile. “If I did that, I’d be on his level, Sal. It’s not me, anyway. If he doesn’t get his comeuppance here on earth, he will in the afterlife.”
    “We can only hope,” Sally added.
    “I don’t have any qualms about putting the screws to Nicholas Pemberton, though. That doesn’t say a whole lot about me, now does it?”
    Sally made a sharp right turn onto Morningside Drive, where she and Lin both had built their dream homes. As she pulled into Lin’s driveway, she said, “Look, if you want to get back at him, you need to put your principles and your conscience aside. Ask for forgiveness when it’s over. You keep thinking like this, you’ll get screwed all over again.”
    Lin opened the passenger door, took her bag from the backseat. “Yeah, you’re right, as usual. Want to come in for a drink?”
    “Can’t. I promised Kelly Ann I’d work her shift tonight.”
    “I’m impressed,” Lin said. “Just don’t overdo it. I need your help now more than ever.”
    “Not to worry. There’s plenty of me to spare. I’ll call you tonight.”
    “Thanks, Sally. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    Sally pulled out of the driveway, waving as she turned onto the street. Lin really didn’t know what she’d do without Sally. She was the big sister she never had.
    For that alone, she